One Last Chance (Returning to Rocky

Ridge Book 1) April Murdock

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ONE LAST CHANCE
RETURNING TO ROCKY RIDGE - BOOK 1
APRIL MURDOCK
 CONTENTS

One Last Chance

April Murdock
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Copyright © 2023 April Murdock and Sweet River Publishing

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and
retrieval systems. Publisher expressly prohibits any form of reproduction.

This is a work of fiction. Any references to names, characters, organizations, places, events, or incidents are either products of the
author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
ONE LAST CHANCE
RETURNING TO ROCKY RIDGE - BOOK 1

APRIL MURDOCK
 CHAPTER ONE

PAIGE
The leather that covered the steering wheel in my hands creaked as I gripped it a little tighter and
yanked it to the side nearly hitting what felt like the hundredth pothole since turning onto the dirt road.
People could talk smack about California all they wanted, but at least the roads were better back
home than these here in Montana. Wind whipped at my hair, tugging my blonde tendrils free from the
messy bun I’d haphazardly thrown together at the airport.
The cobalt blue sky overhead was far cheerier than my current state of mind. Losing my parents had
been hard enough, now I was returning to the one place I’d considered home since their death only to
be forced to give it up.
Whawhoomp.
“Geez, Paige. Watch the road! The rental’s in my name.” Kelsey leaned forward from the back seat,
resting her folded arms between the two captain’s seats. “For Pete’s sake, you actually tried hitting
that one. Guess what? If Mustangs were meant to fly, they’d have wings.”
Brooke snickered from the passenger seat. “Then it’d be called a Pegasus.”
Kelsey ignored her. “I’m just glad we got this one instead of that SUV. So much more
maneuverability.”
Brooke let out an exaggerated sigh.
Kelsey nudged her. “What was that for?”
Brooke shrugged. “I didn’t say anything.”
“No. But you made that sound.”
Brooke turned to face Kelsey, her irritated voice rising over the wind that blew past them. “You
insisted we get this ridiculous sports car when we could have gotten an electric vehicle. Now, we’re
just adding to the pollution.”
Kelsey let out a groan. “Not that again. Do you seriously think your little electric car could manage
potholes like this one’s doing? Besides, have you ever seen a bluer sky? We’re out in the middle of
nowhere. I’m sure our itty-bitty little car won’t make any difference.”
“You can’t be serious. That’s how everyone thinks, and the polar caps are melt—”
“Will you two cool it? This is hard enough maneuvering up this mountain without hearing the two of
you bickering.” I yanked the steering wheel again, causing all three of us to lean to the left. Blowing
out a slow, even breath, I shoved aside all my irritation at Kelsey for insisting we rent this light-
weight vehicle.
We should have just gotten the SUV I had my eye on. But no. Even that one would have put Brooke in
a full-blown tizzy. So, here I was, yet again, making sacrifices, so my sisters wouldn’t rip each
other’s hair out.
I took in a steadying breath and turned my thoughts once more to Twisted Rivers Ranch. It had been
about ten years since our parents had passed in that accident and all I had was wonderful memories—
memories that I would soon be selling to the highest bidder.
A deep-rooted ache in my chest bloomed to fill every crevice. There was no other option. I was the
only one out of my triplets who was willing to do the hard tasks. First, when we went to court to fight
for our inheritance. Then, to make the trip out to the ranch just so we could sign the deed away to
someone who would make it their new home.
My stomach roiled at the thought of losing the one piece of my family’s past I had left. What did it say
about me that I fought so hard to get it back from my father’s side of the family only to toss it away?
It didn’t matter how much I denied responsibility for what had happened after our parents died. The
moment we were orphans, our grandparents whisked us away like three little princesses and sent us
off to finishing school. Years of high society and training only helped to further Kelsey’s success as an
influencer and Brooke’s recognition as an animal rights activist. Which left me, the one to hold it all
together.
The way our grandparents put it, we didn’t need the ranch. It was being handled, and our only
responsibilities were to be the women our mother had failed to be. I filled my lungs with a long
breath and held it for a moment, hoping it would settle my nerves. But it did the opposite. My hands
gripped the wheel even tighter until the design in the leather bit into my palms.
As much as I tried, I couldn’t let go of the past. There was something—or perhaps someone—calling
me back to the place I longed to call home once again. If we didn’t need the extra money, I might have
been able to keep this place as my own. I never really felt like I belonged in the city.
Glancing at the scenery, it was clear I didn’t quite fit in here either. I shot a look at Brooke who was
attempting to zoom into an image on her phone, her face too close to the screen to do her much good.
At that exact moment, the car hit another pothole. Brooke’s phone smacked her in the face, eliciting a
cackle from Kelsey behind them. “I take it back. You can hit as many potholes as you want if you can
make that happen again, and I get it for my Insta.”
The car careened on the road, the front driver’s tire making a terrible thumping sound. I let out a
groan and my head fell back against the chair. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“What? Did we get a flat?” Kelsey peered out over the side of the car, and Brooke muttered
something unintelligible under her breath. Kelsey nudged my shoulder with her perfectly manicured
fingertips. “Tell me you know how to change a tire.”
I whirled around and my eyes narrowed. “We were raised in the same house, Kelsey. Have you ever
seen me change a tire?”
“Well, no. But—”
“But what?” I didn’t have the patience for any of this. And try as I might, I couldn’t deal with
Kelsey’s entitled attitude. “Do you think I possess some kind of magical power that allows me to fix
anything that happens?”
Kelsey nibbled her lower lip. “Would you hate me if I said yes?”
I let out a growl and shoved the door open then slammed it shut. “We’re triplets, Kelsey. We’re
practically the same. Why haven’t you learned to be a mechanic?” The heat in my flushed cheeks
pulsed with indignation, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Neither one of them would admit it, but they
both still looked to me to fix anything that went wrong. Maybe that was the reason it was so hard to
tell them “no.” I’d been trained to believe if I didn’t do something, they’d end up suffering.
Brooke’s soft voice was the only thing that seemed to pull me back to the present. “You do have a
pretty decent record for things working out. I don’t know if it’s just luck or if it’s something else, but
out of the three of us, you’re the most likely to know what to do in situations like this.”
How could I listen to her words and not be warmed by them?
I couldn’t.
Another sigh heaved from my chest as I glanced between the two of them. “Fine. If we’re going to get
to Twisted Rivers, we’re going to have to fix this. Who’s helping?”
I don’t know why I even bothered asking. Both Kelsey and Brooke stared at me with wide, almost
fearful eyes.
Kelsey wagged her fingers toward me. “I just got my nails done before we came on this trip. If I’m
going to post videos, I can’t break even one. I don’t even know if we’ll be anywhere near a salon
who would be able to do what my girls do.”
I swung my gaze to Brooke who only shook her head. “I can’t in good conscience change the tire of a
car that will continue putting emissions in the air.”
Gritting my teeth, my focus bounced from one to the other, and I huffed. “Weren’t either of you paying
attention in kindergarten? What happened to the cat and the dog when they refused to help the little red
hen?”
It was a mistake to even bring that story up. The second the words left my lips, I knew Kelsey would
say something to rile Brooke up. Just as I predicted, she let out a sharp laugh.
“Brooke probably went on strike to improve the working conditions on that farm.”
“That’s not funny. Animals are being abused all over the country.”
I threw my hands in the air as the two of them started up their bickering once more. If we were going
to get to the ranch before sundown, that tire needed to be fixed. There had to be a spare in the trunk or
somewhere on the vehicle. I popped the trunk and shifted our carry-on luggage to the side, finding a
donut spare in the back. Thankfully, we’d opted to have our belongings for the summer shipped to the
ranch instead of flying with it. Otherwise, we really would have needed that SUV.
My fingers tightened around the tire, and I yanked hard right as I heard a motor getting closer. I
released the tire and spun around just as a man on a motorcycle shot past us, kicking up a cloud of
dust and debris. He didn’t even stop!
Here I was, dressed in cut-off jeans and a crop top with my favorite pair of dress boots that came up
to my knees, and the motorcyclist didn't even bother to stop and help.
I glanced toward my sisters who only stopped bickering long enough to make a few disparaging
comments about the driver.
This was my life. It was all I knew. And while there were moments when I could strangle my sisters,
we were also incredibly close, and I’d do anything in the world to make them happy.
I yanked the tire out of the car, and it fell to the ground with a thud. I didn’t have the slightest idea
what I was supposed to do, but spare tires were meant to only be temporary. As long as I slowed
down the rest of the way, we should be fine.
It took three times as long as I thought it would. By the time I was done and we were on the road
again, Kelsey and Brooke were discussing what they were the most excited for after returning to the
ranch.
I had been through the ringer to get this ranch back from my father’s sister but listening to Brooke and
Kelsey talk about staying the summer almost made the whole ordeal at court worth it. It was nice
knowing that I’d made a small difference.
We crested hill after hill and when we finally made it to the top of the highest one, both of my sisters
grew quiet. Spreading before us like a map found in the beginnings of fantasy novels was our
childhood home. It was like a canvas that had been painted just for me. In the distance, we could see
our house, a barn, and a smaller structure that might have been a storage shed. Several corrals were
constructed, and the whole property was surrounded by wire fencing with wooden posts.
I stepped out of the car and shielded my eyes, squinting to see if I could make out any vehicles I might
recognize.
That was silly. A decade had passed. What did I expect to recognize? It wasn’t like I knew what kind
of car Jake drove. Heck, I didn’t even know if he was still working our parents’ ranch after their
death.
Getting my hopes up was dangerous.
More than dangerous, it was dumb. Grams had warned me not to get attached up here. Doing so
would ruin my plans. It was best to keep everyone and everything at a distance.
Most of all, Jake Patton.
 CHAPTER TWO

J AKE
The shelf above my head creaked as I pushed a pail of paint onto the edge. It creaked and cracked,
and I braced myself for the whole thing to come toppling down. My eyes shut tight and my whole
body tensed. But nothing happened.
A sigh of relief escaped my lips, and I backed away, my eyes remaining locked on the shelf. The
interim manager who currently ran the ranch couldn’t be bothered to hire a handyman to fix things like
this, and my plate was full enough as it was taking care of the animals. I shouldn’t have even been
painting today, but I didn’t want Paige’s first impression of her childhood home to leave a sour taste
in her mouth.
Twisted Rivers had definitely seen better days. Every single building on the property had been
neglected, and the repairs were adding up. The paint on both the house and the barn was peeling. A
window in the workshop needed to be replaced. Only one of their tractors was working, and the
fields they used to farm were overgrown with weeds.
If I didn’t have such good memories of this place, I would have left it long ago. The fact was, when
the triplets’ parents had hired me, they’d saved my life. Seeing this ranch continue to decline broke
my heart, but there was nothing I could do. I was just the ranch hand, and I didn’t have the ability to
buy the place to save it from its downward spiral.
I took another step back from the shelves, and the heel of my boot landed on a garden rake. The
wooden stick slapped my back and landed with a crack against my head. I winced and rubbed the
sore spot, muttering a curse for good measure before I leaned down to pick up the offending object.
My fingers wrapped around the splintered handle. Jeremy never put away the tools he used. Being the
manager meant he should be setting a better example. This was more than a liability. It was proof that
the triplets’ cousin wasn’t equipped with the skills to take care of the ranch.
A crash echoed through the barn, and I stiffened. Without turning around, I knew exactly what had
happened. If I glanced over my shoulder, I’d find that shelf from earlier had finally given up doing its
job. I couldn’t blame it. There were days I wanted to do the same.
I let out a sigh and placed the rake with the other tools leaning against the barn wall. The gravel
outside of the barn crunched, and the sound of an engine approached. My heart leaped into my throat. I
knew Paige would be arriving any day now. Jeremy and his mother had been in a sour mood since
they’d found out the triplets had finally won the ranch in court—not that they shared any of that
information willingly. They just didn’t do much to hide their frustration.
Leaving the mess the broken shelf had created, I edged closer to the door. I wasn’t ready for Paige to
return. It hadn’t been difficult to see that she’d had a crush on me back in the day. But encouraging her
would have been way beyond wrong. She’d only been thirteen at the time, and I had just turned
eighteen. Her crush was just a childhood thing, and I had always assumed she didn’t really understand
what a crush even meant. Not to mention, her father was my new boss.
She was very mature for her age, and occasionally, I’d wondered what it would have been like if
she’d been older. Would we have a chance together then? Maybe a future running this ranch together.
I hadn’t thought about those feelings since she’d left with her grandparents after her parents’ death. It
had been easy to forget especially with my father reminding me how terrible city girls could be.
The truck appeared around the bend in the road.
Nope, not Paige.
My chest tightened, and I let out a huff as Jeremy Wincastle climbed out of his truck. He was one
cheeseburger away from a heart attack. That man could pack away more calories than anyone I’d ever
met. Maybe that was one reason this place was falling apart. Ranches were only going to be as good
as the man running it. A slacker was never going to keep a ranch running.
Jeremy slammed his truck door shut with a grunt and stomped toward the house. His eyes darted
toward me, and instead, he made a beeline toward me. His eyes flashed with fury and his hands
curled into fists. “Shouldn’t you be working?”
Irritation mingles with the frustration that has been a persistent visitor since I heard about the Holt
triplets coming to visit. “Pardon me?”
Jeremy poked my chest hard. “I didn’t have to keep you on. I did it as a favor to you. But if I keep
catching you doing nothing, I’m going to find someone who will do your job better.”
My jaw clenched as I reminded myself this wasn’t a battle I would win. I cleared my throat and
picked my words carefully. “Someone made a mess of the tools in here yesterday. I figured I’d clean
them up before the girls arrive.”
Jeremy’s eyes darkened, and his mouth curled into a sneer. “If you think they’re going to let you keep
working here just because you were their friend, think again. Those girls are going to come here, take
one look at this place, and realize they made a big mistake. It’s been too long. They’re spoiled little
rich girls, and they’re not going to last the summer. Just wait. They’ll be begging for my mother and
me to take this place off their hands by September.”
I worked my jaw back and forth. Jeremy was wrong. He had to be. The triplets were raised by
generous parents. Simply moving to the city with their wealthy grandparents wouldn’t change their
core personalities. Would it?
No. Paige, Brooke, and Kelsey would arrive and be the same—just grown up.
The look on my face must have given away my thoughts. Because Jeremy’s sneer widened. “You don’t
know, do you?”
“Don’t know what?”
He laughed. “Don’t you have a phone? Social media?” Jeremy yanked his phone from his pocket and
swiped his finger across the smudged screen then practically shoved it at my face. I stumbled back,
wrinkling my nose. It was either his phone or his fingers, but one of them smelled like bacon. Jeremy
waved the phone in my face again. “Trust me. You’re going to want to see this.”
When I didn’t take the phone from him, he let out a sigh and tapped the screen then turned it, so I
could see it. Kelsey’s face filled the screen as she spoke to the camera about some product she’d been
hired to promote. Her voice was an octave higher than was expected as if she couldn’t speak
normally while being recorded. “This is by far the best moisturizer on the planet, ladies. It makes my
skin softer than I can ever remember. Just look at the way my skin bounces back when I touch it. This
is even better than when I tried the olive oil and egg masks.”
Jeremy pulled the phone away and laughed. “Did you hear that? She actually put raw eggs all over her
face, so she could look younger. What is she? Twenty now?”
“Twenty-two,” I muttered under my breath, but Jeremy didn’t notice.
“If a girl who looks like that is worried about looking old now, just imagine what’s going to happen
when she’s ten years older. How much do you want to bet her sisters are just like her? All they want
is attention and money.” Jeremy stared at his phone, finishing the video before shoving it into his
pocket. The humor on his face dissolved, and he scowled at me again. “They’re going to be here any
minute, then you’ll see. You’re going to hate them as much as I do. They’re stealing the ranch I’ve
worked so hard to maintain.”
I bit back a snort which ended up sounding more like a cough. Jeremy shot another irritated look in
my direction then opened his mouth but was cut off by the purr of a loud engine. My eyes shifted over
his shoulder just as a cherry-red Mustang rounded the same bend Jeremy had come around earlier.
My stomach dropped to my knees. That car had to be worth more than I made in a year. The
convertible’s top was down, and the sunlight reflected off the brand new paint job and the leather
interior. Was Jeremy right? Had living in California for the last ten years been enough to change the
triplets so thoroughly?
The girls pulled to a stop, and all three of them climbed out dressed to the nines in high-end fashion.
My eyes immediately found Paige, hating the way my heart raced even more. She’s grown into a very
beautiful woman—someone I knew right from the get-go was out of my league.
Jeremy nudged me with his thick elbow. “What did I tell you?” he muttered. “Do any of them look
remotely interested in running a ranch like this one? Yeah right,” he huffed before storming toward the
house.
I couldn’t tear my gaze from Paige. Even from this distance, I could tell the three of them apart. It was
something in the way she held herself. It was that same posture that flooded my stomach with dread.
Hadn’t my mother left me and my father for a better life in the city? She didn’t like the lifestyle my
father offered her and nothing—not even her own son—had been enough to change her mind.
I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and forced my heart to even out. For all I knew, she
could have a boyfriend anyway. Or Jeremy was right, and she didn’t plan on staying here. What
woman in her right mind would want to stay here in Montana when they could return to the high life in
California?
From my first impression, I could tell the triplets weren’t what I’d expected them to be. They had to
be crazy to come to a ranch dressed like they were ready for some sort of social networking event.
Didn’t they realize that this place was full of mud, animals, and all the smells that came with them?
I propelled myself away from the barn entrance and headed farther inside. There was a mess to be
cleaned up, and I needed to get my head on straight. There would be plenty of time to speak with
Paige about her expectations while she was here.
A screech filled the air, and I paused, my ears straining to hear what the commotion was about. A
different voice laughed. Followed by the first one exclaiming, “Brooke! It’s not funny! I just got poop
all over my favorite pair of Michael Kors boots! Poop! Ugh!”
I didn’t even try to bite back my grin.
“Serves you right for not looking where you were going,” Brooke snickered.
Paige’s distinct voice sent a pleasurable chill down my back. “Guys. Enough. We need to get inside
and talk to Aunt Alice. You can clean your boots later.”
“But—”
“Now, Kelsey, listen. I’m tired, and frankly, you could have picked better shoes for this trip.”
I turned around, her words tugging a thread of curiosity. I wandered back to the barn door, and my
arrival drew the attention of all three women—but I only had eyes for one of them.
 CHAPTER THREE

PAIGE
Oh my gosh. It was him. But now he’s all grown up and even more handsome than I could have
imagined. Jake was tall and rugged and the epitome of a Montana cowboy. I was completely tongue-
tied. My lungs refused to work right. Ten years later and Jake Patton was still working at Twisted
Rivers.
Every guy I’d ever been on a date with hadn’t measured up to my memory of Jake and rightly so. My
latent feelings rushed to the surface. My face burst with heat, and I spun around, ignoring the fact that
my sisters were freaking out about someone they’d never bothered to mention before.
“Jake!”
“Jake, is that you?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing my face to return to a normal color even though I knew it was an
impossibility. Someone tugged at my arm, and I shook them off. “Come on, Paige. Aren’t you going to
say hi to Jake?” Kelsey’s grip tightened, and she practically dragged me toward the barn.
My eyes darted to meet Jake’s, hating how the heat in my cheeks intensified. This was not how I
wanted him to see me for the first time as a grown-up. My hair was windblown, and I wanted to be
wearing something that would turn his head.
Based on the way his focus didn’t leave my face, I knew something was wrong. Though Jake was
smiling, it didn’t seem to reach his eyes. His features were tight, and he appeared to hate the fact that
we’d spotted him.
Brooke shoved his shoulder. “You’re the last one we thought we’d see here.”
Jake continued staring at me as he answered. “You should know better than that. This place is like a
second home to me. Besides, if I left there wasn’t any guarantee I’d get to see you guys again.”
Brooke laughed. “I bet you can’t even figure out which one of us is which.”
His green eyes darted to Brooke, and I could finally breathe. His hair appeared to be cut short, but I
couldn’t really tell with his cowboy hat covering most of it. His beard was trimmed nicely, making
him look both sophisticated and rugged at the same time. Handsome wasn’t the right word to describe
him.
He was the kind of guy the Greeks would use as an example to sculpt their statues. No longer was he
the shy teenager her parents had hired to work the ranch. Nor was he the surrogate big brother they’d
looked up to.
Jake was all man and my hands itched to explore the muscles beneath his T-shirt.
I sucked in a sharp breath. Reaching for the bottle of water in my bag, I took a quick gulp. And
promptly choked. I tried to stop the coughing fit that was about to come, but there was no use in even
trying. My throat burned and finally the coughing started. I coughed desperately as I tried to drink
more water to soothe my throat. My eyes watered, and I turned away to try to end this as gracefully as
possible.
I felt Jake’s hand on my shoulder as I turned back to face him.
“You okay?”
I nodded, frantically holding up my hand to prevent him from coming closer. I was still attempting to
catch my breath, unable to apologize for my sister’s ridiculous demand.
“Jake, you have to show us if you can still tell us apart. You were the only one who could back when
we were younger,” Kelsey crooned.
“Yeah, Jake. Which one of us is which?”
Why wouldn’t Jake stop looking at me? I swore it was only making my cough worse. I needed air but
no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t stop the fit. He studied me then slowly dragged his gaze
toward Kelsey, folding his arms. He wore a blank stare. Great. They probably already crossed the
line. It wasn’t like they were close anymore. It had been too long since they’d seen each other.
A smile split Jake’s face. “Of course, I can tell you apart, Kelsey. I saw a video of you on your
influencer page. How is being famous treating you?”
“I can’t believe you’ve seen my channel!” She reached out and touched his forearm. A flicker of
jealousy churned in my stomach as she let out a soft, lilting laugh.
Jake turned to her other sister. “And you’re Brooke.”
She nodded.
He continued. “Tell me something. Are the rumors true? Did you get arrested for breaking into a
makeup manufacturing facility?”
Brooke’s laughter was even worse than Kelsey’s. “In my defense, I’d heard they were testing on
animals. I had to make sure. And I didn’t have to serve time or anything.”
Kelsey stepped closer. “No, but you had to pay a fine and do some community service.”
Brooke rolled her eyes, but even she seemed to be enjoying herself.
Then Jake turned to me, and my heart stopped once more. “How are you doing, Paige?” His voice
was warm, and it had this way of being able to wrap around me like a comforting blanket. There was
something sweet in his smile that caused my face to immediately burst into flames again. My mind
went blank, and I couldn’t have answered his question even if I found the correct words. He chuckled.
“You haven’t changed a bit.” His focus shifted to her sisters once more. “None of you have. It’s nice
to see you again.” His green eyes landed on me, and I squirmed under his scrutiny. Wait, was he still
waiting for a response?
I opened my mouth but before I could utter the words, the door to the main house banged open. I
jumped and broke eye-contact with Jake, no longer locked with his mesmerizing gaze. Two people
stood on the front porch staring at us. Brooke nudged me with her elbow, her voice lowering. “Do you
think that’s them?”
I nodded, but I’m not sure if she noticed. I could still feel Jake’s presence more acutely than I
expected, and I itched to turn around and finally say a few words to him. But deep down, I knew I
should head over to the house and clear the air. The last time I saw Aunt Alice hadn’t been a good
experience. Both she and Jeremy had argued with their lawyer before leaving the building, faces
redder than my own.
I stepped forward and stopped only when Kelsey touched my hand. “What are you doing?” she
whispered.
“It’s fine,” I muttered back. “They’re family. If we’re going to live here, with them, we ought to do
something to show them it’s all good.”
“But it isn’t. Look at Jeremy. If looks could kill, he’d be a serial killer by now. All three of us would
be dead.” She reached for my hand and held it tightly. “Seriously, maybe we should keep Jake nearby.
I don’t like—”
“I’m sure Jake has better things to do than—”
“I’m sure Jake would be perfectly happy to hang around.” Jake’s husky voice came just over my right
shoulder, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. He’d moved so much closer.
I gasped and glanced at him. “You don’t have to—”
He nudged me, his touch grazing the small of my back. “It’ll be great. Might as well get this over
with.”
Kelsey fell back, hooking her arm through his and murmuring softly, “My hero.”
I rolled my eyes. Kelsey was a flirt. She probably didn’t mean anything by it, but her actions were
still a little over the top.
Together, the four of us headed toward the house. I couldn’t hear the soft conversation Kelsey and
Jake had, though I probably wouldn’t have wanted to anyway. Time had put a wedge between Jake
and her sisters. They weren’t as close as they used to be.
Jeremy leaned his elbows on the porch railing, his surly gaze sweeping over all of them and his jaw
ticking back and forth. Kelsey had been right about one thing—his gaze was murderous. Aunt Alice,
on the other hand, had a different disposition. She smiled widely, the lines around her eyes deepened,
and she waved them closer.
“Girls, it’s so nice to have you home!”
I exchanged a confused look with Brooke who was at my side. This wasn’t the same woman who had
been in the courts with them. There was something off behind her eyes, however. It was like they
didn’t match the warmth of her smile.
That was ridiculous. While she had every right to be frustrated over the current ownership status of
Twisted Rivers Ranch, she was still family. They were blood. She’d want to make sure we were able
to have the one piece of property our parents had left for us.
“Are you sure you want to stay here?” Brooke leaned in and whispered at my side.
“Of course. Where else would we stay?”
“The barn?”
I bit back a smile. “Did you see the barn? All it would take is a strong gust and that thing would come
crashing down on us.”
My sister lifted her brows. “You’re right. Then they would get to keep the ranch and the secret
insurance policy they took out on us.”
I dug an elbow into her side. “Hush. They’ll hear you.”
Alice moved to the stairs, and her arms reached out to us. “Come give your Mimi a proper hug.”
All three of us hesitated. We didn’t plan it that way, but it was like our feet were glued to the earth.
Alice took another step toward us and let out a strained laugh. “Oh, come now, dears. I know we had
our struggles in California. But we can let bygones be bygones.” She turned toward Jeremy who
continued to glower at us. “Isn’t that right, Jeremy? Your cousins are more than welcome here. This is
their home, too.”
He pushed away from the railing and muttered, “I’m not giving up my room.” He disappeared inside
the house, and Alice laughed again. “Well, he’ll warm up to you. It’s not like you’re going to replace
him as manager, right?” Before I could answer, she turned around and headed for the door. “I’ve got
dinner ready. Jake, as always, you’re welcome to stay and eat before heading home.”
I craned my neck to shoot a glance in Jake’s direction, finding confusion swirling in his eyes before
they sought out mine. He opened his mouth then snapped it shut. Kelsey tugged him toward the porch
steps. “You don’t mind, do you? I’m sure Paige would feel so much better having you around.”
I tore my gaze away from Jake and gaped at Kelsey whose expression had gone from innocent to
completely mischievous. What was she trying to do? Saying stuff like that was going to make Jake
think that I had feelings for him.
Never mind that I used to have a huge crush on him, the fleeting feelings that I currently felt were just
residual. We were two very different people from when we were younger. I shook my head and
tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “You don’t have—”
“Anything to help my favorite triplets.” His gaze locked with mine, and the curse of my never-ending
blush returned.
My throat was dry and all I could do was offer him a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure."
 CHAPTER FOUR

J AKE
City girls are trouble. Big trouble. You can’t trust ‘em.
My father’s words echoed in my head over and over as I followed the triplets into the house. This
was the first time Alice had invited me into her home that I could remember for something other than
to fix a leaky faucet or some other nonsense. And I accepted only because I didn’t know what she
would do if I hadn’t.
She’d put me on the spot. I only wished I knew why.
I kicked off my boots by the front door, and the whole group headed for the kitchen. At least it smelled
good. My stomach growled, garnering a grin from Kelsey who seemed most interested in my company
for the moment. But it wasn’t her eyes that I sought.
The interior of the house was in better shape than I had expected. It was tidy, if only a bit run down.
The furniture looked like it hadn’t been updated in a decade. For all I knew, this was the exact
furniture that came with the house. The pictures that hung on the wall were all of Jeremy save for one
or two that Alice had of herself. It was clear this was her home. Which begged the question, why was
she being so nice?
Alice had been in a sour mood since she’d lost the ranch, too. What was her end game? Was she
trying to butter the girls up so that she could remain in control of the place? Probably. In fact, the
possibility of that was more likely than anything I could have come up with otherwise. She had
ulterior motives.
My gaze bore into the back of Paige’s head. I only hoped that she was aware of Alice’s personality
enough to protect herself. I would have thought living her life in California for the last ten years
would have been enough to teach her not to trust anyone—even family—but there was no guarantee.
Paige avoided my gaze as she took a seat at the table. I expected her sisters to sit on either side of her,
but instead, Brooke and Kelsey automatically rounded the table and sat opposite their sister. Jeremy
took the head of the table, and his mother took the opposite end which forced me to sit between Paige
and her cousin.
I pulled out my chair and settled beside her. There was so much I wanted to ask her. The pain behind
her eyes tugging at my heart.
City girls are trouble, you hear me?
I shoved the irritating voice out of my head and cleared my throat only to be cut off by Brooke’s
disparaging tone across from me.
Brooke eyed the chili that Alice poured into her bowl with disdain. She pointed at it, her face
scrunched as she glanced over to her aunt. “This chili is vegetarian, right? I don’t eat meat.”
Paige stiffened beside me. Kelsey rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone as she reached for a sprig
of parsley from the salad bowl. Jeremy looked like he was about to let out a laugh, and Alice gaped at
Brooke like she’d requested Alice cut off her own hand to feed the group.
“I beg your pardon?”
Brooke gestured toward the bowl once more. “I don’t eat meat on principle.”
“This is a ranch, dear. What do you expect me to fix for you?” Her tone had flattened considerably,
and her lips spread into a thin smile. “This is my famous chili. It has chilies, beans, and beef. If you
don’t like it, you’re welcome to go out to the pig pen and eat the vegetable slop in their trough.”
Brooke gasped, and her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. She opened her mouth, but Paige reached
for her bowl and gave her a meaningful look. “Just eat the salad. We’ll get you some tofu when we go
into town tomorrow.”
“Tofu?” Jeremy guffawed. “You’re on a ranch, cousin, in ranching country. Do you honestly think
you’re going to find tofu at the country store in town?” He laughed again. “Oliver would have a field
day with that request. Can you imagine, Mom?” Jeremy snickered at Brooke. “You might as well get
used to eating your precious little animal friends. That’s what they were put on this earth for anyway.”
Brooke glowered at her cousin and reached for the salad bowl. I half-expected her to shoot something
back at him considering the way he shoveled food in his face like the pigs Alice had mentioned, but
she retained her grace.
Paige took a bite of her chili and offered a smile to her aunt. “This is delicious. Thank you, Aunt—
Mimi.”
Alice’s features softened. “Of course, hon.” Her gaze shifted toward Kelsey, and just like that, the
tightness in her eyes returned.
Kelsey had placed the parsley on her chili and had arranged her place setting around the bowl to take
pictures. Her phone in hand, the sound of a fake shutter filled the room. Brooke seemed to be the only
one who didn’t care to watch.
Both of the Wincastles appeared to be in shock, and Paige’s face was quickly filling with color as she
ducked her head and took a bite of her chili. Finally, after about two-dozen pictures, Kelsey put her
phone away. Her eyes swept over the group. “What?”
Jeremy was the only one to seem to think fast enough to respond. “Don’t you know it’s impolite to use
electronic devices at the dinner table?”
Kelsey’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t you know it’s impolite to talk with your mouth full?”
Jeremy snapped his mouth shut and scowled at her before he scooped up another spoonful of chili.
The air around us hung thick with everything left unsaid. Paige looked absolutely miserable. This
wasn’t how things should have gone when the girls returned. There should have been a party.
Had their parents been alive, they would have fixed all their favorite foods and invited the whole
town. Instead, the girls were being treated like they weren’t worth the mess stuck on the bottom of
Kelsey’s shoes.
I cleared my throat once more and glanced in Paige’s direction. I had to say something—anything to
clear the air. But then Jeremy had to add to the mess that currently surrounded them.
“So now that you own the place, what are you gonna do? Let me guess. We’re gonna grow hemp and
cannabis and start selling all-natural remedies for stuff that already has medications for it.” He
shoveled another bite of cornbread into his mouth and some crumbs flew out as he continued. “Or
you’re going the other way, and you’re gonna turn this place into a dude ranch for all your snooty
friends from California to come pretend to do what I do for a job every day.”
“Don’t be silly, Jeremy. The girls are probably going to want to sell this place, so they can just go
home.” Alice’s gaze bounced from girl to girl, and she offered them an empathetic smile. “I mean, just
look at you. You’re not really equipped to run this place, and a quick sale would get you out of here
the fastest without prolonging the painful memories I’m sure you’re all feeling.”
Paige put her spoon down, her brows creased. “Actually, I—”
“Just let the lawyer do all the work for you. They certainly charge enough, so you might as well let
them earn their keep. Just rip off the Band-Aid and leave this place to someone who can make
something of it.”
I flinched when Paige launched from her seat and placed her palms on the table. Her eyes flashed, and
her cheeks filled with that delightful shade of pink when she’s passionate about something. “Some
wounds are too deep for Band-Aids, Aunt Alice. I—” Paige’s gaze bounced around the room, landing
on each person and their wide eyes. She snapped her mouth shut and lowered herself into her seat
once more.
This was the Paige I remembered. The girl who was passionate about her life and what she wanted to
take from it. She’d never been the kind of person to let someone else take the reins. Maybe she wasn’t
what everyone was claiming her to be.
Jeremy could be wrong.
His father could be wrong.
There was still the old Paige lurking somewhere beneath all the makeup and high-end clothing. I
studied her out of the corner of my eye as she sat stiffly in her seat. There was something brewing in
her just beneath the surface, and if I could figure it out, maybe I’d be able to get her to sell the ranch
to me—if that was her plan.
Granted, if she wanted to stay, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing either. I just wasn’t willing to get my
Another random document with
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 Fig. 1
Diagram of the Electrical Connections of a Controller to a Two-Pole Series
Motor

Supposing the cylinder to be rotated to the position marked O, the

circuit may be traced from the positive terminal of the battery U, as
follows: To contact spring E, to strip of brass L, to strip of brass M, to
contact spring F, through the field windings VV, to contact spring D,
to strip of brass K, to strip of brass J, to contact spring C, through
resistance W and Y, to armature Z, through armature to the negative
terminal of the battery. Moving the cylinder to the position P merely
cuts out the resistance W, and to the position Q, cuts out the
remaining resistance Y. The direction of the current through the
armature and series field, for all positions of the cylinder to the left, is
indicated by the full-line arrows. Moving the controller to the
positions marked R, S, and T, will result in the same changes in
circuit connections, as in the previous case, except the direction of
the current in the series field windings will be reversed.

Fig. 2
Upper-End View of the Controller, Showing the Manner of Attaching the
Springs

The construction of the controller may be carried out as follows:

Obtain a cylindrical piece of wood, 1³⁄₄ in. in diameter and 3¹⁄₈ in.
long, preferably hard wood. Turn one end of this cylinder down to a
diameter of ¹⁄₂ in., and drill a ¹⁄₄-in. hole through its center from end to
end. Divide the circumference of the small-diameter portion into eight
equal parts and drive a small nail into the cylinder at each division
point, the nail being placed in the center of the surface lengthwise
and perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. Cut off all the nail
heads so that the outer ends of the nails extend even with the
surface of the outer, or large-size, cylinder. Divide the large part into
eight equal parts so that the division points will be midway between
the ends of the nails, and draw lines the full length of the cylinder on
these points. Divide the cylinder lengthwise into seven equal parts
and draw a line around it at each division point. Cut some ¹⁄₈-in.
strips from thin sheet brass and mount them on the cylinder to
correspond to those shown in Fig. 1. Any one of the vertical division
lines drawn on the cylinder may be taken as the neutral point. The
pieces may be mounted by bending the ends over and sharpening
them so that they can be driven into the wood. The various strips of
brass should be connected electrically, as shown by the heavy lines
in Fig. 1, but these connections must all be made so that they will not
extend beyond the outer surface of the strips of brass.
A small rectangular frame is made, and the cylinder is mounted in
a vertical position in it by means of a rod passing down through a
hole in the top of the rectangle, through the hole in the cylinder and
partly through the bottom of the rectangle. The upper part of the rod
may be bent so as to form a handle. The rod must be fastened to the
cylinder in some convenient way.
Make six flat springs similar to the one shown at A, Fig. 2, and
mount them on the inside of the rectangle so that they will
correspond in their vertical positions to the strips of brass on the
cylinder. Six small binding posts mounted on the outside of the box
and connected to these springs serve to make the external
connections, and they should be marked so that they may be easily
identified.
A flat spring, ¹⁄₄ in. wide, is made similar to the one shown at B,
Fig. 2. Mount this spring on the inside of the rectangle so it will mesh
with the ends of the nails in the small part of the cylinder. The action
of this spring is to make the cylinder stop at definite positions. The
top of the case should be marked so that the position of the handle
will indicate the position of the cylinder. Stops should also be
provided so that the cylinder case cannot be turned all the way
around.
 Miniature Push Buttons

A very neat and workmanlike push button may be made in the

following manner: Procure an unused tan-shoe eyelet with an
opening about ³⁄₁₆ in. in diameter, and at the proper point drill a hole
into the board in which the button is to be set. Force the eyelet in
flush, using a little shellac to hold it in tightly. For the button proper,
polish off and round one end of a piece of brass rod of a diameter
that will move freely up and down in the eyelet. Solder a small piece
of sheet brass across the lower end to keep it from coming out, then
adjust and fasten on the two contact pieces, all as indicated in the
sketch. The larger piece should be quite springy so as to bring the
button back each time. The connections may be made by slipping
the wires under the heads of the two wood screws that hold the
contact pieces in place.
As every experimenter knows, it is almost impossible to drill a hole
in the varnished base of an instrument without leaving a raw edge.
Under such circumstances, when it is desired to make an opening
for conducting cords, and the like, simply drill a hole with an ordinary
drill and then set in a small shoe eyelet, which immediately presents
a very finished appearance.

¶Vaseline, with a little powdered gum camphor added and heated

over a slow fire, makes an excellent rust preventive for tools.
 A Quickly Made Toy Electric Motor

The Motor is Constructed of Pieces of Tin, a Nail, and Some Wood Blocks

The illustration shows a small electric motor of such simple

construction that it can be easily made from odds and ends to be
found in any amateur workshop. Cut six strips, ¹⁄₂ in. wide and 3¹⁄₂ in.
long, from an old tin can, and bend them together into a U-shape.
This forms the magnet A. The outside piece should be a trifle longer
than the others so that its ends can be turned over the other ends to
keep them all in place. Screw this down on a small wood base. At
one side of the wood base, fix an upright, B, and on top, a light wood
bracket, C, to take the upper bearing of the motor. The shaft D is
simply a wire nail with the head filed off and filed to a point. Drive it
through a 1¹⁄₂-in. length of the same kind of material as used for the
magnet. This forms the rotating armature E.
Make a slight indentation with a center punch, or strong nail,
exactly in the center of the base portion of the magnet to take the
lower end of the shaft. For the upper bearing file the end of a brass
screw off flat and make a similar indentation with a center punch, or
by a few turns of a small drill. This screw should be adjusted in the
bracket until the shaft rotates freely with the armature just clearing
the tips of the magnet. Wind about 40 turns of fairly thin cotton-
covered copper wire—No. 24 or 36 gauge is suitable—around each
limb of the magnet, first covering the latter with paper, to prevent the
possibility of short-circuiting. The windings should be in opposite
directions so that the connecting piece of the wire from one coil to
the other passes across diagonally as shown in the illustration.
The brush F is formed by doubling up one of the free ends of the
windings after removing the cotton covering and fixing it firmly with
two screws to the side of the upright. After attaching, it should be
bent until the outer end bears lightly on the shaft. Remove the shaft
and at the point where the brush touched, file two flat surfaces on
opposite sides of the nail in a direction at right angles to the
longitudinal center line of the armature. On replacing the shaft the
brush should be adjusted so that it makes contact twice in a
revolution and remains clear at the flat portions. Connect up to a
battery, one wire to the screw at the top of the motor and the other
end to the open end of the windings. Give the armature a start and it
will run at a terrific speed.—Contributed by Morris G. Miller, New
Rochelle, N. Y.
 Gauge for Woodwork

A convenient gauge can be quickly made by using a block of wood

and an ordinary nail, or several nails for different widths can be
placed in one block. Drive the nails straight into the block until the
distance between the head and block is the required distance to be
gauged. The rim of the nail head makes the mark as the block is
drawn over the wood surface—Contributed by E. P. Haldeman,
Balboa, Canal Zone.
 A Homemade Ammeter
By JOHN D. ADAMS

Where a high degree of accuracy is neither desired nor necessary,

a very satisfactory ammeter may be made at the cost of a few
cents, and without using hairsprings, permanent magnets, or other
articles usually not at hand.
The actuating device consists of a small coil of coarse, insulated
wire, with a bundle of soft-iron wires for a core, which attracts a
curved, soft-iron, wedge-shaped armature. The moving system is so
balanced that the armature will hang as illustrated when no current is
passing. On account of its shape, the higher the armature rises, the
more iron it presents to the influence of the magnet, and, on the
other hand, the greater will be the effect of gravity. The advantage of
this type of control is the elimination of the irregular readings of the
scale, due to the law of inverse squares, that usually follow when
any method depending upon a variable distance is used. Further, the
readings can be had as desired by altering the taper of the armature,
its thickness, or its distance from the magnet, and also by adding a
small weight of nonmagnetic material at the bottom. As most
commercial circuits supply alternating current, the friction of the
bearings does not affect the readings, since the alternations set up a
decided vibration in the entire moving system, thus eliminating static
friction.

A Very Satisfactory Ammeter for Use Where Accuracy is Not Desired or

Necessary

In view of the variations above referred to, it will be evident that it

is not very essential of what dimensions the apparatus is made. The
instrument that I use has a base measuring 2¹⁄₂ in. by 5 in. The coil
is built on a tube of glued paper, and contains about 15 ft. of No. 16
gauge wire. The terminals consist of the brass bolts taken from
discarded dry cells. A steel sewing needle serves as a shaft, and a
piece of wire for the pointer. The various joints are made with soft
solder, and suitable stops are provided to keep the armature from
shifting laterally. In calibrating, a blank scale should be glued in
position and as many 55-watt lamps as possible arranged so that
they can be placed in the circuit, one at a time. On a 110-volt line,
each lamp added will mark a half-ampere point. If a sufficient
number of lamps to carry the scale high enough cannot be secured
temporarily, a resistance of some 20 or 30 ohms should be placed in
the circuit without any lamps. Note the reading in amperes on the
scale thus far constructed, and then begin adding the lamps again,
making a mark on the scale as each lamp is added. In this manner a
scale may be built up sufficiently accurate for all practical purposes.
If two identical coils are made in place of one, the additional coil
can be placed in parallel with the instrument as a shunt, thus
doubling its capacity and making it necessary, of course, to multiply
all readings by two.
 Footstool

Footstool in Mission Finish with a Leather Top

The material necessary for the footstool shown in the illustration is

as follows:
2 end pieces, 1 by 10 by 15 in.
3 cross braces, 1 by 4 by 12 in.
2 end braces, ⁷⁄₈ by 4 by 8 in.
1 top board, ¹⁄₂ by 10 by 14 in.
1 piece of leather, 11 by 16 in.
Round-head wood screws and nails.
The two end pieces should be marked to a suitable pattern, and
may be cut out with a scroll or coping saw, or, if these are not
available, with a keyhole saw. The center opening should first be
bored at one end and then cut out with the saw. The three long
braces should be accurately squared and finished at the ends; the
rigidity of the stool depending on this work. The seat consists of a
box form with the open side down. The top is a ¹⁄₂-in. board, 8 in.
wide by 12 in. long; the sides are formed by two of the long braces,
and the ends are the short braces. This box is securely put together
with nails, and then screwed in position with round-head wood
screws so as to be flush with the top edge of the end pieces. The
lower brace is secured in place with screws. In putting on the leather
top, ¹⁄₂ in. should be turned under at each end, and 1¹⁄₂ in. brought
down on each side. This will provide sufficient looseness to pad the
seat properly. Large round-headed brass nails can be used,
producing a neat appearance. The stool is then ready for a suitable
stain or finish.—Contributed by Stanley B. Furbeck.
 Stopper for a Bunghole
While we were filling our barrels at the cider mill it was discovered
that one barrel had no stopper. This did not bother the cider-mill
man, who took up a sound apple of about the dimensions or
diameter of the bunghole and squeezed it in, tight as a cork, then
shaved it off flush with the barrel staves. We started Home and rolled
it around a great deal with the other barrels, yet it held as tightly as
any wood stopper.—Contributed by A. A. Kelly, Frazer, Pa.

¶An open umbrella placed on the floor upside down makes an

excellent receptacle for catching dirt and plastering when installing
electric fixtures.
 A Woven-Reed Footstool
By CHARLES M. MILLER

[The various materials referred to in this article by number or size were

described in detail in an article on “A Reed Basket,” in the Boy Mechanic,
Book 2, page 257.]

R eed furniture has become very popular within the last few years,
and the newer designs and methods have been so attractive as
to place this constructive effort among the handicraft series of
modern art. It is possible so to analyze, simplify, and illustrate this
work as to make it feasible for amateurs, and at the same time there
are possibilities which involve problems that may try the ability of the
skilled workman. In other words, there are possibilities of progress in
this kind of furniture making. There are places where careful weaving
is the principal aim; again particular attention will be given to corners,
or, perhaps, a nicety of modeling will be found necessary to bring out
the proper curves involved.
Each piece of reed furniture has a framework, usually of dowels,
but it may also be made of boards in such models as small tables,
dressers, bedsteads, chests, etc. The board construction is more
often covered with flat reed. In footstools there are both kinds of
framework. The illustrations show the same parts marked with the
same letters throughout the series of sketches.
 The Framework of the Stool is Made of Large Dowels, Then Covered with
Windings of Reed and a Woven Reed Top and Apron

The framework of the stool is shown in Fig. 1, in which the rails

and posts are made of dowels, ³⁄₄ in. in diameter, and the braces of
dowels, ⁵⁄₈ in. in diameter. It will be noticed that the posts extend to
the top of the frame for strength in this manner of construction. If the
rails rested on top of the post S, the nails would have to be driven
into the end grain of the wood, which makes the strength depend
entirely on the holding power of the nail in this position, as there is
no binding of the upper part to the posts in the weaving. With the
post extending to the top, the nail passes through the upper part of
the post and into the end grain of the rails, and the rails are bound
together horizontally by the weaving.
The material for the frame consists of the following dowel stock:
two pieces for rails, ³⁄₄ in. by 14 in. long; two pieces for rails, ³⁄₄ in. by
9 in. long; four posts, ³⁄₄ in. by 7 in. long, and two braces, ⁵⁄₈ in. by 17
in. long. These pieces are shown in Fig. 2. If notches are cut with a
small saw, a coping saw preferred, in the ends of each rail and in the
braces, as shown in Fig. 3, they will fit to the posts better and make
a stronger joint. While different makers use a finishing nail; a barbed
or corrugated, nail; or a cemented, or glue-coated, nail, I find the
best to be an ordinary 4-penny nail, which answers the purpose well.
Do not drive the nail through the posts without first drilling a hole with
a ¹⁄₁₆-in. drill. A small hand or breast drill will be needed for this work.
Before nailing the frame together, the holes for the spokes in
weaving should be drilled in the rails. The spokes may be No. 4 and
the weavers No. 3 reed. The No. 4 reed requires a ¹⁄₈-in. hole. The
hole for the top and end side spokes may be combined, as shown in
Fig. 4. The dotted lines show the vertical and horizontal diameters,
and E the outside and F the inside of the rail, one hole being
represented as sawed in two. The spokes for the top extend down
and out at the ends, and each may be of one piece, 32 in. long. As
there are no spokes at the top extending to the side pieces, short
spokes must be inserted at the right time for the side weaving. The
location of the holes in the side rails is shown in Fig. 2. The holes in
the side rails may be drilled straight in the wood.
The pieces may now be nailed together to form the frame, as
shown in Fig. 1. If the top of the side rails A are set about ¹⁄₁₆ in.
below the tops of the posts, the weaving will be almost level, as the
winding reed is thinner than the round reed. The braces D are halved
at the center, on a slant, to bring their upper surfaces on a level
when they are in place. The length of 17 in., as given in the material
list, is not accurate, as sufficient length is given to allow the ends to
be cut, in fitting them in place after the frame is assembled. The
posts should stand vertical and square. Try the braces before nailing
them in place, to see that they do not draw the frame out of shape.
The first operation in weaving is to cover the tops of the four posts,
which is started as shown in Fig. 5. A short piece of winding reed, G,
is first tacked in place. A round reed can be split if one is careful, in
case winding reed cannot be obtained. Tacks used by shoemakers
are just the thing for fastening these weavings in place. After
fastening the weaving G in place, another, H, is put on in an opposite
direction, whereupon J is fastened on the same as G, and so on,
until the post is covered, as shown in Fig. 6. Perhaps a better way to
cover the posts would be to tack all eight pieces on the post part C,
and then weave them down together. It may not be necessary to tack
them all on the rails.
After the corners are all covered, the end rails B are wound with
the winding reed, the start being shown in Fig. 7, where the frame is
shown in an inverted position. The reed is tacked, at K, to the side
rail, and whenever the winding comes to a hole, a pencil mark is
made to locate the hole later. This mark is shown at L. When the two
end rails are wound, push a bodkin, or other steel point, in between
the windings where the marks are located, to make way for the
insertion of the spokes. It may appear to an observer that the spokes
could be put in before the winding, but the winding cannot be
properly done after the spokes have been inserted, as the windings
would separate too much around them. The hole must be opened up
through to the opposite side of the rail. Single spokes go through the
rail, and they are only put through one end rail at first, as the
weaving is much easier with one end of the spokes free, but, of
course, they must be inserted in the other end before the weaving
gets within 2 or 3 in. of that end. An extra spoke is inserted beside
each spoke, as the weaving proceeds and after a strip has been
woven ³⁄₄ in. wide. These short spokes are cut just long enough to fit
in between the end rails. The weaving is done with a single weaver,
and it is passed over and under double spokes as if they were one.
When the weaver comes to the side rail, it is wound twice around the
rail, to take up the space for the two strands across. If the weaver
does not go twice around the side rails each time, either the weaving
will take a curve or the side winding will be loose. The starting of the
weaving is shown in Fig. 8, where the extra spokes are inserted
along the side of each spoke that runs through the end rails.
After the spokes have been inserted in the opposite end rail and
the weaving in the top completed, the braces and posts should be
wound. Where the braces D connect to the posts C, three strips of
the winding reed are passed around the post and tacked on both
sides of the braces, as shown at M, Fig. 9. Where the braces cross,
the winding passes around both pieces for a short distance, as
shown at N. It is quite appropriate to use the brass caps O on this
model, but on many stools their use has been discontinued and the
winding continues down to within ¹⁄₈ in. of the bottom of the post. In
case the brass cap cannot be obtained, the winding may be used
also on this model.
 Fig. 1 Fig. 2
Fig. 3 Fig. 6
Fig. 5 Fig.
Fig. 4
7
Fig. 8 Fig. 9

Details of the Dowel Pieces, Showing Dimensions for Drilling the Holes to
Admit the Spokes of Reed, Manner of Building the Framework, and How the
Top is Woven

The side weaving is called the apron, and in this case the pairing
weave is used. The short spokes will have to be inserted in the
under side of the side rails, and the extra spokes are added after the
weaving is started and a small strip woven. The pairing weave is